MX-5050-B Sales Brochure — Digital Edition · Part 1 · scan pages 2
The Machine in Detail
MX-5050-B↑ TOP
The best $3500 two-channel recorder for under $2500.
Logical successor to the first truly professional compact recorder, the MX-5050.
⤢ zoomThe MX-5050-B seen from the front, upright, with both reels fitted: the head cover and its splicing block across the middle, the transport button cluster below, and the two VU meters with their input and output knobs along the bottom panel. Numbered 1 to 16, keyed to the captions below.
Around the transport↑ TOP
1Dc Capstan Servo: ±7% Speed Control: Dc capstan servo system provides exceptionally stable tape speeds, plus ability to vary both record and reproduce speeds by ±7% of nominal.
2Adjustable Cue Control: Helps locate selections by defeating head lifters in fast forward or rewind to allow you to hear an audible signal. Adjustable feature varies the signal volume to prevent overloading of earphones or monitors.
3Built-in Splicing Block: As a real production convenience, a precision-aligned and indexed splicing block is mounted right on the head cover. Cover is hinged and lifts for easy access to heads.
4Selection Locator Memory: Return to zero memory recues machine to zero setting, a real time saver.
5Three Speeds: Three speed operation in speed pairs of 15/7½ or 7½/3¾ ips are internally switchable on PC board inside the back cover. Equalization is automatically changed at the same time.
6Edit Control: Indispensable for production work, allows you to rock the reels back and forth or to spill tape at right of transport. Deactivates take-up motor and end-of-tape lever.
7Selective Reproduce: Another important production feature for overdubbing, selective reproduce allows a new track to be laid down next to previously recorded tracks in perfect time synchronization.
8Front Adjustable Bias and Record EQ: To peak bias when changing tapes or to quickly reset record equalization, these adjustments are front accessible.
Heads and electronics↑ TOP
9Plug-in, Rugged Permalloy Heads: Otari MX-5050-B heads are plug-in for ease of servicing. They are fabricated from hard Permalloy, a rugged material that gives the best compromise between extended head life and optimum signal output.
10Extra Reproduce Head: In addition to the half-track reproduce head, an extra playback head is included in the head assembly to reproduce quarter-track tapes. Selection between the two heads is made by a switch accessible through the top of the head cover.
11Flashing Ready Light: This provides a visual indication, easily seen even from a distance, of the record-safe mode which helps to prevent accidental erasure. An LED indicator pulses to signify that the recorder is in the ready mode after either of the Record Selector push buttons has been depressed. To initiate recording, the Record button in the transport control cluster is then activated, which changes the pulsing of the LED to continuous illumination.
12Noise Free Punch-in and Punch-out: Newly designed TTL/IC logic provides freedom from clicks and pops when punching in or out of the Record mode on the run.
13Motion Sensing Control Logic: Motion sensing allows you to go directly into Play from Fast Forward or Rewind without time delays, breaking or stretching tape, or having to go through Stop.
14Peak Reading LED's: Besides large easy-to-read VU meters, the MX-5050-B has a peak reading LED set to +9dB. This can be set at a different threshold if desired.
15Fixed Output Level: A standard reference level (SRL), or fixed output position, is front panel switch selectable. This is normally +4dBm for a balanced 600 ohm line, but can be changed to −10dBm by a rear panel switch to facilitate interface with low-level mixers or other peripheral equipment.
16Built-In Test Oscillator: Peaking bias is made much faster with the build-in 1000 Hz test signal. It is also useful for putting a cue tone on the tape for selection location.
The back panel↑ TOP
⤢ zoomThe rear panel of the MX-5050-B, its connectors on a slanted face: the remote connector and ground post at the left, the nameplate in the centre, and a row of three-pin XLR line outputs, line inputs and microphone inputs at the right, with the output level, equalizer, record level and microphone attenuator switches along the lower edge. Numbered 17 to 22, keyed to the captions below.
17+4 or −10 dBm Output: Selects between either the +4dBm level for a 600 ohm line or −10dBm level for low-level mixers or similar equipment.
18Remote Control Connector: All transport operating controls (Record, Play, Stop, Rewind, and Fast Forward) are brought out to this connector for selection by an optional remote control unit.
19NAB/IEC EQ: Both NAB and IEC equalization circuitry are included and are selected by this switch.
20Choice of Three Record Levels: To maximize performance with different tapes, the MX-5050-B includes three separate calibrated record levels in nWb/m: 185 (original standard), 250 (for high-output low-noise tapes), 320 (the IEC and DIN standard).
21Microphone Attenuator: For added versatility when using microphone preamps or high output mics, this switch provides a 20 dB pad.
22XLR Connectors, Slanted Panel: All input and output connectors are three-pin XLR, mounted on a slanted panel so the machine can be operated horizontally.